Containers



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E 121 l mm kl f @L l@ a :d :Li s Y J. ARGoDALE CONTAINERS June2l, 1955 Filed July 1e, i952 s -l t.

june 21, 1955 J, ARGODALE 2,711,281

CONTAINERS Filed July 16, 1952 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 IHM. .j

June 21, 1955 J. ARGODALE 2,711,28

CONTAINERS Filed July 16, 1952 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 United States Patent O coN'rAnsnns John Argodale, Benton Harbor, Mich., assi-gator to '1 `Win Cities Manufacturing Company, Benton Harbor, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Application July 16, 1952, Serial No. 299,157

1 Claim. (Cl. 229-37) This invention relates generally to improvements in containers and more particularly to a container for holding produce such as apples, potatoes or the like.

One of the objects of -this invention is to afford a container for heavy produce such as apples or potatoes, which container is characterized by side, end and Lbottom panels of at least double thickness all formed from a single cut and scored sheet.

Ano-ther object is to provide such a container wherein the sheet is cut and scored in such a fashion that all of the assembling is done by folding operations through the top opening thereof, in contrast to containers of the prior art wherein the assembling is done by operations in which the panels are folded into position partly from the -top and partly from the bottom, or in which the container body consists of two pieces, one of such pieces making a single thickness body, and the other of such pieces being thereafter added to give both wall and stacking strength.

Another salient object is to provide a container body made from a single cut and scored sheet in which the top edges of the container body are characterized by folded over panels which both greatly enhances the appearance and gives good resistance to wear and abrasion occasioned in the handling of the contents thereof.` e

A further object is to afford a container body wherein good strength in a vertical direction, which aids Vgreatly in stacking of the containers one on top of the other, is achieved by providing an exposed -cut edge all around the outer panels at the bottom thereof, the folded over inner panels providing the wall reinforcement not being required to be subjected to all of the stacking loads.

Still another object comprehends in a container of the class described the provision of locking members formed from inner reinforcing end panels which cooperate with a container cover or closure to hold the body and the cover securely together, such locking members providing in the locking position suitable openings in theend panels for convenient carrying of the container.

Other objects and important features of the invention will be apparent from a study of the following specification taken with the drawings which together illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention and what is now considered to be the best mode of practicing the principles thereof. Other embodiments may be suggested to those having the benefit of the teachings herein and it is therefore intended that the invention not be limited by the precise embodiment herein shown, and such other ernbodiments as may fall within the purview of the subjoined claim are therefore intended to be reserved.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a cut and scored sheet for making a container body for a container according to the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing one of the steps taken in folding the blank of Fig. 1 to construct the container body;

2,711,281 Patented .lune 21, 1955 Fig. 3 is a perspective view similar to Fig. 2 showing another step; v

Fig. 4 is a perspective view similar to Figs. 2 and 3 showing a still further step; Y

Fig. 5 is a front perspective view showing the final step in assembling the-container body;

Fig. 6 is a `perspective view showing the manner of assembling the cover for the container body of Figs. 1 to 5;

Fig. 7 is a perspective View showing the container body with the cover locked thereto; and

Fig. 8 is a cross section through the completely assembledrcontainer body and cover of Fig. 7 taken along the planes 7-7 thereof and showing the details of the locking tab for holding the cover to the container body.

Referring now to the drawings, the container according to the present invention is referred to generally by the reference numeral 16 and includes a container body 11 and a cover or top closure 12 therefor. The container body 11 is formed from a substantially rectangular cut and scored sheet as seen in Fig. l, and is scored along score lines 13, 14, 16 and 17 -to provide a stitch flap 1S, an outside end panel 19, and outside side panel 21, an outside opposite end panel 22, and an opposite side panel 23. The stitch ap 18 may be stapled or otherwise secured to the right hand end of theside panel 23, and in such a fashion so that when the stitch flap 1S is secured it is concealed on the inside of the' side panel 23.

The steps of making theY container body 11 are best seen with reference to Figs. 2 to 5 inclusive, and in forming the container body 11 all of the steps-take place in such a fashion that the folding is done by operations from the top of the side panels 22 and 23 and from the to ice g ofthe end panels 19 and 22.` f

The side panel 21 is formed integrally with an inner reinforcing side panel 24and a bottom panel 26, panel 24' being folded with respect to the side panel 21 along a pair of score lines 27 and'28, while panel 26 is folded with respect to the panel 24 along a score line 29.

The bottom panel 26 is provided with flaps 31 and 32, panel 31 being adapted to be folded with respect to panel 26 along a score line 33, while panel 32 is adapted to be folded with respect to the bottom panel 26 along a score line 34.

As seen in Fig. 2 and Fig. 3, flaps 31 and 32 are folded against the bottom panel 26 and panel 24 is folded against the inner face of the side panel 21. When the bottom panel-26 isfin position the flaps 31 and 32 are folded back upwardly against the outer end panels 19 and 22, respectively, to provide intermediate reinforcing-panels for the end panels 19 and`22. l

The opposite side panel 23 is continuous with a pair of panels 36 and.37, panel 36 being folded with respect to the side panel 23 along score lines 38 and 39, while panel 37 is folded with respect to panel 36 along a score line 41. As seen in Fig. 4, panel 37 is folded along the score line 41 with respect to the panel 36, and panel 36 is folded down on its score lines 38 and '39 along the inside face of the side panel 23. The panel 37 is then folded down into position atop the bottom panel 26 'to provide an additional bottom reinforcing panel.

In order to facilitate the dismantling of ytine-container body 11 when desired, the inside bottom reinforcing panel 37' has a cut out sector 42 adapted to be engaged by the fingers of the hand so that the inside bottom reinforcing panel 37 may be first lifted up prior to the reverse set of operationsA just described.

The end panel 19 is provided with an inner reinforcing panel 43 adapted to be folded with respect to the end panel 19 along score lines 44 and 46 and down into position against the intermediate reinforcing flap 31, as seen more clearly in Fig. 5. The opposite end panel 22 is also provided with an inner reinforcing panel 47 adapted to be folded with respect to the end panel 22 along score lines 48 and 49, and downward into position against the intermediate reinforcing flap 32.

It will be seen from the description thus far that the container body 11 is folded into its assembled position as seen in Fig. by a series of operations making it unnecessary to turn the outside panels 19, 21, 22 and 23 to other than an original upright position. The placement of the inside reinforcing side panels 24 and 36,

the bottom panel 26 and its inside reinforcing panel 37 and the intermediate reinforcing end flaps 31 and 32 is achieved by operations which take place in a direction from the top of the panels 19, 21 and 23 and in a downward direction at all times. The inside end panels 43 and 47 are likewise placed by folding operations which take place in a downward direction from the top of the container body.

The container body thus far described is also characterized by smooth unbroken upper surfaces dened by the score lines 44, 46; 27, 2S; 4S, 49. The double folded top edge defined by the aforesaid score lines enables the carton container body to be especially resistant to abrasion caused by handling the contents of the container and especially resistant to impact forces thereagainst.

The container body 11 is preferably formed from corrugated material, the corrugations running in a vertical direction when the container is placed as seen in Fig. 5. Theouter panels 19, 21 and 23 at times may rest upon a cut bottom edge 51 of the container body 11, and since the corrugations run in a vertical direction, and since the body may rest along the cut edges 51, the container body 11 is able to withstand the loads incident to stacking same one on top of another.

The closure or cover 12 for the container body 11 is formed from a cut and scored sheet Sti including a central panel S2 having end flaps 53 and 54 which are folded along score lines 56 and S7 respectively. The end flap 53 is provided with tuck-in flaps 58 which are folded in on a score line 59 and along a score line 61. The end ilap 5d similarly has tuck-in flaps 62 which are folded in along the score line 61 and so as to be embraced between side flaps 63 and 64 which are folded back upon themselves along a score line 66. The central panel 52 is partly sheared as at 67 to receive locking tabs 68 formed integrally with the ilap 64 which locking tabs 68 are locked into the half sheared cut-outs 67.

The container body 11 is formed with end apertures 69 which are located in the end panels 19, 31 and 43 and the end panels 22, 32 and 47. When the container body 11 is assembled as seen in the several views, the apertures 69 fall into register to provide end hand holds for the container body 11.

The top closure 12 is adapted to be held to the container body 11 and to be locked into position thereon. To this end the inner reinforcing end panels 43 and 47 are punched along a line 71 to provide locking tongues 72. The central panel 52 of the top closure 12 is slotted as at 73 immediately adjacent to the flaps 53 and 54, and slots 74 are also provided in the flaps S3 and 54. In locking the top closure 12 the locking tongues 72 are held in a vertical position as seen in Fig. 5, and the top closure 12 is brought down into position atop the container body 11 with the locking tongues '72 extending up and through the slots 73. One of the locking tongues 72 is then folded over and around the outside of the end ap 54 as seen in Fig. 7 and then tucked into the slot 7 4 and between the flap S4 and the outer end panel 22. The opposite end of the container body 11 is also similarly arranged, the locking tongue 72 at such opposite end thereof being brought through the opening 74 and between the end flap 53 and the Youter outside of `the opposite end panel 19.

It will be seen from the description immediately foregoing that the closure 12 is securely locked to the container body 11, but may be removed readily when desired. The turned back locking tabs 72 for the cover 12 are formed integrally with body 11, thus making the provision of accessory locking flaps unnecessary.

The container according to the present invention pre-V sents many advantages, among which are the provision of a cut lowermost edge enabling the container to have good stacking properties; the provision of a smooth top edge making the container especially resistant to deformations along the top thereof; and the property of being assembled by folding operations which are done entirely from the top and without the need of turning' the container body over. Another very important advantage lies in the provision of at least two thicknesses ot' material in forming the sides, ends and bottom of lthe container. The locking means is likewise formed without the need for any additional material, and the locking tabs may be formed at the same time the sheet is cut and scored.

While the invention has been described in terms of a preferred embodiment thereof, its scope is intended to be limited only by the terms of the claim here appended.

I claim:

A container for produce or the like formed from a substantially rectangular cut and scored sheet to provide a container body having opposite side and opposite end panels with lowermost cut edges, said container being characterized in the forming thereof by operations taking place in an entirely downward direction and into that portion of the container as defined by said opposing side and end panels, said opposing side and end panels having portions continuous therewith constructed and arranged as follows: a pair of panels continuous with one of s aid side panels which are folded into position downward from the top of the said one side panel to provide an inner reinforcing panel therefor and a bottom panel, said bottom panel having flaps extending therefrom which are folded individually into position against said end panels against the inner side thereof, a pair of panels continuous with the opposite one of said sidek panels which are folded downward into position from the top of said opposite side panel to provide an inner reinforcing panel therefor and a second bottom panel reinforcing said lrst named bottom panel and lying in position thereover, reinforcing panels extending from said opposite end panels which are folded downward against said flaps and having the ends thereof in abutting relationship with the overlying one of said bottom panels, all of the said panels which are folded downward from said side and end panels when folded into position thereby presenting a plurality of smooth coplanar folds at the top edges of such panels for resisting de formation of said container body, the bottom panel and the bottom reinforcing panel being coplanar with the lower cut edges of said opposite side and end panels whereby said bottom panels transmit the load of said packed container into a subjacent container, and whereby the lowermost cut edges of said opposite side and end panels afford good stacking quality of said container body.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,493,460 Pinkerton May 6, 1924 1,820,523 Augustin Aug. 25, 1931 2,418,963 Anderson Apr. 15, 1947 2,618,429 Donnell Nov. 18, 1952 

